Mayor introduces Baltimore's new top cop

Former Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts to take over Sept. 27

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake introduced the Baltimore City Police Department's new top cop on Tuesday, and it didn't take long for him to hit the streets to find out what he needs to do to get moving.

New Baltimore Police Commissioner-designate Anthony Batts takes part in two neighborhood patrols, and he was well-received by residents, including many who were sorry to see former police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld retire.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and new Police Commissioner-designate Anthony Batts talk with Stan Stovall about some of the issues they hope to combat in the city, including drugs, gun violence and community outreach. He also talks about an issue important to the city -- the Ravens.

"Today it is my pleasure to introduce Dr. Anthony W. Batts as Baltimore's next police commissioner," Rawlings-Blake said during a news conference. "I'm proud that someone of Chief Batts' caliber and experience sees his future and Baltimore's future as aligned."

As Batts took the podium, he said he does not anticipate making changes coming in the door.

"What I'm going to be doing my first 90 days is listening and learning. I'm going to learn the culture of the Baltimore Police Department," Batts said. "I've been in an organization where I had chiefs come from the outside also, so I understand ... and I understand the team pride, and that's a good thing."

The former Oakland, Calif., police chief said he plans to diagnose and then treat any issues with the force in due time.

"I'm going to check the health of the organization. Check to see what we do well, what we don't do well. I'm going to talk to the command staff. I'm going to have the command staff all submit their resumes to me. I want them to feel like they have to compete for their job. I'm not looking to upset the organization at all. It seems to be running well at this point in time, so I'm going to continue to learn from the organization, too," he said.

During the news conference, the mayor cited a decrease in overall gun violence. Rawlings-Blake said although neighborhoods are better, safer and stronger, "I will not be satisfied until Baltimore becomes the safest big city in America."

Batts said he hopes to accomplish that through better community policing. He outlined the need to bridge any gaps with better community outreach.

"(I hope to) push community policing and to continue to fight crime in a diligent way," he said.

Batts emphasized that community policing is not just a program, but a philosophy, and he is looking to set a standard of how police officers should treat their communities.

"I want to cultivate the creativity of the command staff," Batts said. "I want an organization that is bold, creative, innovative, and fast-moving. That's what I want. I want an organization that understands our community."

Batts meets with community

The commissioner-designate took part in two neighborhood patrols on Tuesday, and he was well-received by residents, including many who were sorry to see former police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld retire.

Batts said he surveyed the streets incognito when he came to Baltimore to interview for the job.

"I put on my T-shirt and jeans and sweat gear, and I drove around and I talked. I went to the police stations and saw how employees interact with residents here," he told 11 News reporter Kerry Cavanaugh.

In the process, Batts said he witnessed a drug deal take place out in the open.

"I don't think it's unique to the city, but it's something I keep in the back of my head to address and deal with at same time," he said.

Batts, who served as police chief of Long Beach, Calif., from 2002 to 2007 before becoming the chief in Oakland, will replace Bealefeld, who announced his retirement in May after a five-year run as chief that included a drop in the number of homicides.

Batts resigned from his Oakland post after two years due to clashes with the mayor and City Council. Some are questioning the mayor's decision to choose an outsider to replace Bealefeld, but those who came out to meet him Tuesday night said they are looking forward to giving him a chance.

"Whatever works. He's coming from some cities with some track records that have major crime," resident Eric Lee said.

Meanwhile, the mayor wants Batts to continue the current crime-fighting strategy, and she's confident the City Council will confirm him quickly.

"He's been the most vetted person we've ever had," she said.

The 52-year-old father has also lectured at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Batts will begin his new position Sept. 27, pending confirmation by the City Council.